Reg.: Epidemic Outbreak of Gastroenteritis and Death
due to Pollution of Kali River by West Coast Paper Mills

Dear Sir,

The undersigned met with you on 6th June 2003 with
a representation of Kali Bachao Andolan highlighting that:

a) Kali River was heavily polluted due to callous discharge of
effluents from West Coast Paper Mills, Dandeli, encouraged by the
lack of regulatory action by the Karnataka State Pollution
Control Board and the District authorities.

b) That a dam proposed by Murdeshwar Power Corporation at
Dandeli was being pushed through despite highly illegal moves to
secure clearances on the basis of fraudulent EIAs.

c) Rampant and illegal sand mining is continuing without check
and this is severely disturbing the sensitive ecology of this
river.

In this connection, we understand that the Secretary, Dept. of
Ecology and Environment, Government of Karnataka, upon your
direction, has written to the Chairman, Karnataka State Pollution
Control Board, vide letter dated 25 June 2003 No. FEE 246 ENV
2000, requesting a status report, on the first issue above. We
are not sure of the action taken on the other two issues
raised.

In light of the above, the Pollution Control Board should have
immediately swung into action and undertaken a field
investigation. Based on our enquiries with the Board office in
Bangalore today, no such action has yet been taken.

In the meantime, a tragic result of the continuing discharge
of untreated effluents by West Coast Paper Mills has been that
a 10-day-old baby of one Takki, a resident of Kariampalli
village in Dandeli Taluk, died last week. This was
because the mother took ill after consuming water from the river,
the main source of drinking water in the region.

Another resident of the same village, one Janu (nee
Zure), S/o of Danu, aged about 27 years, has suffered acute renal
failure, due to severe dehydration, and is presently
undergoing dialysis at Nalwad Hospital at Gokul Road in Hubli
(Tel. 08362370360) on the reference of Dr. Patil of Dandeli
(Tel.: 08284-331636). So far the patient has incurred an
expenditure of over Rs. 30,000, undergone dialysis 6 to 7 times,
and is in intensive care. Absolutely no medical or financial
support has been rendered to him till date by the district
authorities.

In addition, over 50 residents of this village have
suffered serious gastrointestinal disorders. Many of these
patients have been treated by Dr. Bhole at Dandeli (Tel:
08284-331634/331933). Dr. Patil has also treated some
patients.

The cause, apparently, is discharge of untreated effluents
from West Coast Paper Mills into the Kali River between 2nd and
5th July, and the death and illness has been only reported
thereafter, not before, and mainly from Kariampally village,
which is situated immediately after the point of effluent
discharge. This is information we have just received from
Mr. S. R. Gundupkar, a resident of the village, whose contact
details will be provided if his personal security is assured.

When Mr. Gundupkar and several others went to the Dandeli
police to report this incident and file an FIR, the police
dissuaded them from doing so. Furthermore, the Mills and the
district authorities have refused any help to the affected
people. All affected are Gowli tribals, who are losing their
last paisa in dealing with their illness.

Sir, it is most unfortunate that despite submitting a
representation to you on this matter, lack of timely action has
resulted in death of a child and serious illness and injury to
many others. Considering which we demand that:

West Coast Paper Mills must be immediately shut
down, pending enquiry, and immediate action taken,
including criminal proceedings against those directly involved,
and also those complicitly involved, as per law.

A high level enquiry must be orderedand an
independent site visit be immediately undertaken to ascertain the
extent of the damage caused to public health and environment, and
the report must be made public.

A special investigation must be ordered to ascertain
the reasons preventing the police and district authorities from
refusing to accept complaints of the publicin this
regard, and whether they are under pressure against acting in
accordance with law, and the report made public.